Paddick on attack in 'police thugs' row

The Lambeth commander made the allegations on an anarchist website in response to claims of police brutality during the Millwall football riot two weeks ago.

Mr Paddick hit out at the critics who accused him of betraying rank-and-file police officers. Claiming his views had been "deliberately distorted," he said: "I have seen examples of police officers behaving inappropriately with my own eyes. I can't simply dismiss something as not existing.

"I'm not stupid, I'm not blind and I don't live in some fantasy world where 100 per cent of police officers behave 100 per cent of the time."

Writing in the Daily Mirror, Mr Paddick paid tribute to the majority of police officers who do their jobs to the best of their ability in difficult circumstances.

He said he had seen the challenges officers are often faced with. "I have been involved in the sort of riot situation that happened 12 days ago. I was also a sergeant during the 1981 Brixton riots."

In March Mr Paddick, 43, was moved from his post in Lambeth to a desk job following allegations the he allowed cannabis to be used in his home, which he denies.

The commander, whose "softly, softly" approach to cannabis in south London is thought to have saved 1,350 hours of police time, the equivalent of two extra officers - is now the subject of a police investigation.